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As we head towards Budget 2014, which will take place on Wednesday 19 March, there is no denying the UK economy is in a better place than it was this time last year. GDP growth of 2.4 per cent is predicted for this year and things are looking up, but does this mean that George Osborne will be providing dramatic tax cuts and reforms? Probably not…

Submitting your self-assessment tax-return doesn't have to be hard – especially in the digital age. With the 31 January 2015 deadline just 6 weeks away, we thought we'd put together a fool-proof guide to submitting your online tax return, just in time for Christmas.

There's no doubt about it, investment schemes are not for the amateur investor. The rules can be complex, getting out can be tricky, and the chances of losing money are high.
However, if you're savvy about what you do with your money, you can earn yourself a nice return while making a big difference to your tax bill. The risks are high, but so are the rewards.

The comedian Rik Mayall shocked the British public last year after he died suddenly at the age of 56. Almost a year on, the future of his £1.2 million estate has been thrown into doubt after it emerged that he failed to leave a valid will, thereby leaving his assets 'intestate'.

For the unprepared, the process of making a will and ensuring it is followed properly can contain many pitfalls. Every step taken must abide by the letter of the law and any diversions can result in an invalid will and the moving of the deceased’s estate into the realm of intestacy law.

The result of the General Election has left Teresa May and the Conservative Party clinging on to power with support from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland. This leads to a period of significant uncertainty for the country as the BREXIT negotiations are just about to start.

The Conservative Party Manifesto announcement and subsequent U-Turn on the requirement to pay for social care may have caused many voters to switch their allegiance in the June Election. Although this so-called “#Dementia #tax” is not strictly a tax, paying for social care has become more important than #Inheritance #Tax for many families.

When should you take perks instead of dividends?
As a rule of thumb, dividends are the most tax and NI-efficient method of taking income from your company. But there are sometimes better alternatives. What are they and when can you use them?